"Winter Weekend" Auction Features President Carter Self-Portrait

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jon Moor
In Atlanta, 404-420-5107

ATLANTA….President Carter has painted the first known self-portrait by any president, and it will be among many other exclusive items auctioned to benefit the not-for-profit Carter Center on Feb. 28 in Snowbird, Utah. The 40" x 30" oil painting, titled "Peace," depicts the celebration of the historic Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty in 1978. Carter is shown shaking hands with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin on the White House lawn.

Exciting meetings with celebrities, relaxing land and sea vacations, collectible presidential memorabilia, and artwork ranging in value from $50 to $100,000 are among the many offerings in live and silent auctions.

Sample selections:

• Lunch with the wry crew of "Car Talk," the phenomenally popular radio show
• Two bottles of President Carter's homemade, private-label red wine
• A baseball signed by President Carter and Cuban President Fidel Castro
• Getaways to St. John, Mardi Gras, and the Kentucky Derby
• Yamaha acoustical guitar signed by many top music stars
• A Harry Potter book signed and personalized by J.K. Rowling
• 1977 Inaugural Ball program signed by more than 30 celebrities
• Nobel Peace Prize collectibles
• Original bust of President and Mrs. Carter

All are welcome to participate in the auctions by fax, phone, or online. All silent and live auction items are available for online or faxed bids until 4 p.m. MST (6 p.m. EST), Saturday, Feb. 28. Live Auction: If a remote bidder desires proxy representation in the live auction by "Winter Weekend" staff or would like to be called when a particular item is up for bid, those arrangements can be made by contacting Dianne Bryant at either 404-420-5102 (phone) or 404-892-9438 (fax) until Feb. 24; or thereafter at 801-742-2025 (phone) or 801-742-2370 (fax) until 10 p.m. MST (midnight EST), Feb. 27.

The record bids at last year's "Winter Weekend" auction were $275,000 for a walnut coffee table handmade by President Carter; $165,000 for a baseball signed by Cuban President Fidel Castro and President Carter during his historic trip to Cuba in May 2002; $70,000 for a one-week vacation on a luxury yacht; and $65,000 for a photo of five presidents and six first ladies autographed by each of them.

The annual Carter Center "Winter Weekend" ski event at Cliff Lodge and Spa at Snowbird Mountain Resort is sponsored in part by Delta Air Lines and The Coca-Cola Company. Event attendance is for invited guests only.

Note to Media: Coverage of the Carters' Town Hall Meeting, 8:45-10 p.m. on Feb. 26 at Snowbird, is welcome. Event is NOT open to questions. To arrange credentials, please call Jon Moor at 404-420-5107 (before Feb. 24) or 801-742-2222 (after Feb. 25).

####

The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide. A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, the Center has helped to improve life for people in more than 65 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; improving mental health care; and teaching farmers to increase crop production. To learn more about The Carter Center, please visit: www.cartercenter.org. 

President Carter's "Peace."